At Rites of Passage, we walk with you and your family through the practical and spiritual aspects of planning and preparing for death. We offer a variety of end-of-life services to help you through decisions around funerals, memorials, grief support, living wakes, and advance planning. Kristabeth has officiated over 200 funerals over the past twenty years and has walked with countless individuals and families through grief and loss.

Funerals, Memorials, Graveside Ceremonies, Celebrations of Life, and Living Wakes

A funeral or memorial that is tailored to reflect the personality, beliefs, and values of the person who has died can provide comfort and begin the path toward healing.

At Rites of Passage, we design and officiate Funerals, Memorials, Graveside Ceremonies, Celebrations of Life, and Living Wakes. Our services include consultations, a customized ceremony, and a draft review prior to the ceremony (if applicable).

Kristabeth officiates end-of-life ceremonies throughout Vermont and in Northern New York (and online). She has experience with religious, interfaith, secular, and spiritual-but-not-religious services. She will spend ample time with you in order to design a unique ceremony that reflects the life of the person being celebrated and remembered.

For a Graveside Ceremony, Funeral, Memorial, Celebration of Life, or Living Wake, our fees range from $225-$525 depending on the details of the ceremony.

(Travel fees will apply for ceremonies outside of Chittenden County, Vermont.)

“Life is what you celebrate. All of it. Even its end.”

~ Joanne Harris

End-of-Life Planning

Planning ahead for your death doesn’t negate the full, active life you are currently living. To help you plan for end-of-life, we offer consultations (in person or through video chat) on the practical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of death. You will have the opportunity to:

• consider your burial options
• design your funeral or memorial, and
• write your obituary.

Planning ahead for your death saves you and your family the stress of making last-minute arrangements, reduces costs, gives you peace of mind, and allows your loved ones to mourn knowing they have honored your end-of-life wishes.

“When I was a pastor, I often sat with families after the death of a loved one. So many families struggled to know what their loved ones would want – what to do with the body, what kind of remembrance to hold, whether to request memorial donations, where to hold a reception. Having to make decisions without knowing their loved one’s wishes made an already stressful time that much more difficult. Compounding the situation, I witnessed grieving families go into debt to pay for expensive funeral packages purchased hastily in the hours following a death. In my work today, I want to help individuals and families make intentional, informed end-of-life decisions so those left behind can focus on what is truly important at the time of death, celebrating and honoring their loved one.”

~ Kristabeth Atwood, Founder of Rites of Passage, LLC

End-of-Life Preparation

When facing a terminal diagnosis or nearing the end-of-life, individuals may wish to take stock, reach out to loved ones, gather friends and family, reflect on their legacy, and put the finishing touches on final plans. We can help you (or your loved one) approach end-of-life by:

• walking you through a life review,
• designing and officiating a personalized living wake,
• helping you plan your funeral or memorial service, and
• assisting you in writing your obituary.

Our End-of-Life Planning and End-of-Life Preparation Packages range from $375-$725 depending on the services requested.

(Travel fees will apply for services performed outside of Chittenden County, Vermont.)

E-mail us for information about our end-of-life services or schedule a free 30-minute exploratory call.

“When I rise up/let me rise up joyful/like a bird. When I fall/let me fall without regret/like a leaf.”

~ Wendell Berry

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